Pneumatically actuated clip for a paintball gun

ABSTRACT

A pneumatically actuated clip for a paintball gun may include a driving member such as a soft sealing ball or a flexible drive piston that conforms in shape and size to a cross-sectional area of a passageway containing a supply of paintballs. The passageway preferably provides a paintball route (or pathway) inside the clip that supplies the paintballs to the paintball gun. In one embodiment, the driving member creates a pneumatic chamber (sealing as it moves) in the area behind the driving member. Pressurized gas supplied to the pneumatic chamber preferably drives the driving member and the supply of paintballs forward along the pathway. The pressurized gas that drives the driving member can, for instance, be controlled by means of an integrated regulator or can be a timed pulse of air supplied through a solenoid valve as controlled by a signal from a control board. The signal could be generated using a breech sensor to determine when a paintball has been loaded into the breech to determine when to actuate the supply solenoid. Alternatively, a pressure switch can control the supply of pressurized gas through a solenoid. Other features and embodiments are also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application relates generally to paintball guns (or markers) and their feeding systems. More particularly, the inventive principles disclosed in this application primarily relate to clips or magazines for supplying a quantity of paintballs to a paintball gun.

Conventional paintball guns typically use bulk loaders containing hundreds of rounds of ammunition to provide the supply of paintballs to the paintball gun. While acceptable for many players, scenario players frequently desire paintball guns bearing a closer resemblance to traditional firearms. In addition, military and police force training groups also typically desire paintball guns that bear a closer resemblance to firearms they are likely use in the course of their duties. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a paintball gun that uses a clip or magazine, as opposed to a bulk loader, to provide the supply of paintballs to the marker.

It is known for pneumatic paintball guns, including semi-automatic and automatic firing compressed gas paintball guns, to use clips or magazines for supplying the paintballs to the gun. For instance, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,470,872 and 6,892,718, a removable magazine stores both projectiles and propellant. The magazine in those designs is small enough to fit into a handle of a paintball gun pistol. In those designs, a spring advances a pad upward along the magazine to urge the projectiles toward and into a projectile chamber. An improved mechanism for driving or advancing the projectiles in a clip is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment incorporating principles of the present invention, a pneumatically actuated clip for a paintball gun preferably comprises a clip or magazine housing. A pathway is preferably formed in the housing for containing a store of projectiles, for instance in single-file. The pathway can be formed as a curved, U-like shape with no abrupt edges. A pneumatic fitting is preferably arranged at one end of the pathway with an opening being formed at the opposite end of the pathway. A driving member such as a ball formed of foam, rubber, or other suitable material can be arranged in the pathway proximal to the pneumatic fitting behind the store of projectiles. Alternatively, one of the paintballs or other projectiles can provide the driving member. The driving member may have a cross-sectional area slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of the pathway to provide a sealing function.

In operation, when the clip is attached to a properly configured paintball gun, a supply of compressed gas is preferably provided to the pneumatic fitting. The supply of compressed gas travels through the pneumatic fitting into a pneumatic chamber. The pneumatic chamber communicates the compressed gas to a rearward surface of the driving member to urge it forward along the pathway. The driving member thereby, in turn, supplies a driving force to the store of projectiles to urge them forward along the pathway and out the opening. During operation, the pathway opening is preferably arranged in communication with a firing chamber or breech of a paintball gun.

The supply of compressed gas can, for instance, be constant or selective. A constant supply of compressed gas can be provided, for instance, through a regulator integrated into the clip. The integrated regulator can, for instance, receive a constant supply of compressed gas from a paintball gun compressed gas source or from a separate compressed gas source.

In another embodiment, a pressure switch can be directly connected to the incoming air through a solenoid. The pressure switch could, for example, be used to determine a pressure in the pressurized area (or pneumatic chamber) located behind the driving member. If the pressure in the pneumatic chamber drops, or if additional pressure is desired, a signal from the switch can be used to direct a solenoid valve to supply additional compressed gas to the chamber. In these embodiments, the pathway is preferably airtight to prevent the leakage of compressed gas from the pneumatic chamber.

In an alternate embodiment, a selective, timed pulse of compressed gas can be supplied through a solenoid valve in response to a signal from a paintball gun control board or a separate clip control board. This timed pulse of compressed gas can be triggered, for instance, by a firing operation of the paintball gun in order to direct the pulse of compressed gas to urge the paintballs forward during a subsequent loading operation. The solenoid valve may, for example, receive compressed gas from the paintball gun compressed gas source or a separate compressed gas source associated with the clip.

In a still further embodiment, the pressurized gas supply to the clip can be controlled using one or more breech sensors or “eyes” arranged in the firing chamber (or breech) of the paintball gun. The breech sensor(s) can be used to detect the presence and/or absence of a paintball in the firing chamber and send a corresponding signal to a control board. In one embodiment, the supply of compressed gas could be provided to the pneumatic fitting until the sensor(s) detect the presence of a paintball in the firing chamber (or for as long as an absence of a paintball is detected). Once a paintball is determined to be in the firing chamber, another signal (or absence of a signal) could then cause the flow of compressed gas into the pneumatic fitting to stop until after the gun is fired. When the sensor(s) again detect the absence of a paintball gun in the firing chamber, a signal (or absence of a signal) can be sent to again initiate the flow of compressed gas to the pneumatic fitting until another paintball is arranged in the firing chamber.

A method for operating a pneumatically-actuated clip for a paintball gun is also provided. Specifically, according to a preferred embodiment, a clip is preferably connected to the paintball gun such that a pneumatic fitting on the clip mates with a pneumatic receiver on the paintball gun in a sealing relationship. Compressed gas is preferably supplied to the pneumatic fitting on the clip through the pneumatic receiver on the paintball gun. A driving member can be arranged in the clip to providing a driving force to a supply of paintballs arranged in a pathway. The supply of compressed gas is preferably provided to a rearward surface area of the driving member to urge it forward along a pathway. As the driving member is driven forward, it pushes the supply of paintballs arranged in the pathway forward towards an opening in the pathway.

The compressed gas supply can be constant or selective. In one embodiment, for example, compressed gas is constantly supplied to the pneumatic fitting on the clip to provide a constant force on the driving member. This constant force urges the driving member and the supply of paintballs along the passageway toward the opening and into the breech as the firing chamber empties. Constant pressure can be supplied, for instance, using a regulator integrated with the clip, using a regulated supply of compressed gas from the paintball gun, or using a pressure switch and solenoid.

Alternatively, compressed gas can be selectively supplied to the driving member. In one embodiment, for instance, a signal from a control board directs a solenoid to release a timed pulse of compressed gas into contact with the driving member. The signal can be generated in response to a firing operation of the paintball gun such that during a subsequent loading operation the timed pulse of compressed gas can force a paintball into the emptied firing chamber.

In another embodiment, the flow of compressed gas into the clip can be controlled based on detecting the presence or absence of a paintball in the firing chamber of the paintball gun. In this embodiment, the presence or absence of a paintball gun in the firing chamber is detected. If the firing chamber is empty, compressed gas can be supplied to the clip to move the drive ball or other driving member forward until a paintball is loaded into the firing chamber. The supply of compressed gas to the clip can then be terminated until the firing chamber is again empty.

Accordingly, the principles of the present invention help, among other things, to prevent over-pressurized ball push, thereby resulting in more reliable ball feeding without a bulk loader to meet the desires of the scenario player. Other variations on and combinations of the herein-described embodiments are within the scope of this invention and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description explaining the inventive principles herein in more detail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of various preferred embodiments, proceeding with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic perspective view of a pneumatically actuated clip for a paintball gun according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional side view of the pneumatically actuated clip of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional side view of the pneumatically actuated clip for a paintball gun of FIG. 1 shown attached to a paintball gun according to another aspect of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram representing the components of a paintball gun having the pneumatically actuated clip of FIG. 1 attached thereto, further illustrating principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompany drawings. Beginning with FIGS. 1 and 2, these figures provide a perspective and cross-sectional side view, respectively of a clip 100 for a paintball gun according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring first to FIG. 1, a pneumatically actuated clip 100 preferably comprises a housing 110. The housing 110 preferably comprises an opening 112 for supplying paintballs to a paintball gun 200 (see FIG. 4) and a pneumatic fitting 114 for connecting to a source of pressurized gas 260 (see FIG. 4). The pneumatic fitting 114 and opening 112 are preferably arranged in a top portion of the clip 100. If desired, one or more sidewalls 111 (or portions of the sidewalls 111) of the clip 100 can be made of a transparent or translucent material to permit a user to visually identify when the supply of paintballs 120 in the clip 100 is running low.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the pneumatically actuated clip 100 of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, a pathway 116 is preferably arranged in the housing 100 between the pneumatic fitting 114 and the opening 112. The pathway 116 is preferably a hollow tunnel or tubular member having a circular cross-section formed in a curved U-like (or other) shape without any abrupt edges or turns to enable the paintballs to transition smoothly through the pathway 116.

The pathway 116 can either be integrally formed in the housing 110 or it can be formed of a separate, tubular member arranged to fit within the housing 110. The housing 110 can, for instance, have an opening in the top, bottom, or side to receive the tubed pathway, or can be formed of separate halves that snap-lock or otherwise connect together to house the pathway 116. In one embodiment, the pathway 116 can be formed of a flexible, tubular member that can be straightened to receive a supply of paintballs 120 and then bent and placed within the housing 110. The tubular member could, for instance, be formed of a flexible rubber or plastic tube that is sufficiently flexible to conform to the shape and size of the paintballs being supplied therethrough. In this case, the flexible tube can have a cross-sectional diameter slightly smaller than the paintballs and a paintball can act as the driving member. The tubular pathway 116 can be airtight to prevent compressed gas from leaking therefrom.

In another embodiment, the tubular member or tunnel can be more rigid. In this case, the cross-sectional diameter of the pathway 116 is preferably just slightly larger than the diameter of the paintballs arranged therein. Conventional paintballs are substantially spherical and are generally approximately 0.68″ in diameter, although the principles of the present invention are not limited to supplying any particular size or shape projectile and can also be used for projectiles other than paintballs. A driving member 118, such as a drive piston or sealing ball, is preferably provided proximal to the pneumatic fitting 114 so as to be behind a supply of paintballs 120. The driving member 118 is preferably formed of foam, soft rubber, or other suitable material that conforms to the cross-sectional area of the pathway as it travels along the pathway while providing a seal-like function.

In a most preferred embodiment, the driving member 118 is a soft, flexible foam or rubber ball with a diameter just slightly larger than the cross-sectional diameter of the pathway 116. One or more detents (not shown) can be used to provide sufficient resistance to keep the paintballs 120 from inadvertently exiting the pathway 116 through the opening 112 and to keep the driving member 118 from exiting the pathway 116. The tubular pathway 116 can also be formed of translucent or transparent material to permit viewing of the paintball supply 120 arranged therein.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a paintball gun 200 is preferably configured to receive the pneumatically actuated clip 100 into a clip port 210. A pneumatic connection port (not shown) is preferably arranged in the clip port 210 to connect to the pneumatic fitting 114 of the clip 100. The pneumatic connection port may include a sealing device to provide an airtight connection between the connection port and the pneumatic fitting 114 of a clip 100 arranged in the clip port 210. A paintball feed receptacle 230 is preferably arranged in the paintball gun 200 to receive the supply of paintballs 120 from the pneumatic clip 100. The feed receptacle 230 can, for example, be a tube or simply an opening arranged in the paintball gun 200 in communication with the opening 112 of the clip 100.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a paintball gun 200 and clip 100 illustrating additional principles and aspects of the present invention. Referring additionally to FIG. 4, the paintball gun 200 can further include an electronic control board 250 and one or more breech sensors 252 (such as light sensing “eyes,” pressure sensors, or other sensors) for detecting the presence or absence of a paintball in the breech area (or firing chamber) 212 of the paintball gun 200. The paintball gun 200 further preferably includes a regulator 260 configured to receive and regulate a supply of compressed gas from a compressed gas source 270. A solenoid valve 240 may also be provided to selectively communicate compressed gas between the regulator 260 and the pneumatic fitting 114 of the clip 100. The solenoid valve can, for instance, be a two-way solenoid valve. Alternatively, the pneumatic fitting 114 can receive a constant supply of compressed gas directly from the regulator 260 or from the compressed gas source 270. The pneumatic clip 100 can also be provided with an integrated regulator (not shown) independent of, or receiving compressed gas from, the paintball gun regulator 260.

The operation of the pneumatically actuated clip 100, according to various alternative embodiments thereof, will now be described more fully with reference to FIGS. 1-4. A supply of paintballs 120 is preferably loaded into the clip 100 through the opening 112. The driving member 118 is arranged between the supply of paintballs 120 and the pneumatic fitting 114. The clip 100 is then arranged in the clip port 210 of the paintball gun 200. A mechanical connection, such as a clamp, snap lock, or other connection, is preferably used to hold the clip 100 in place in the paintball gun 200.

When the clip 100 is mounted in the clip port 210 of the paintball gun 200, the opening 112 is preferably arranged in communication with the feed receptacle 230 for loading paintballs into a firing chamber (or breech) 212 of the paintball gun 200. The pneumatic fitting 114 is preferably engaged by a connection port (not shown) in the clip port 210 in a sealing relationship. Once properly connected, compressed gas supplied to the driving member 118 through the pneumatic fitting 114 provides a driving force for pushing the supply of paintballs 120 through the pathway 116, out the opening 112, and into the feed receptacle 230 of the paintball gun 200.

The supply of compressed gas to the driving member 118 can be constant so as to provide a constant force urging the supply of paintballs towards the firing chamber of the paintball gun. In one embodiment, for instance, a regulator (not shown) can be integrated into the pneumatic clip 100 and receive a supply of compressed gas directly from a compressed gas source 270. Alternatively, a regulated supply of compressed gas can be supplied to the clip 100 through a regulator 260 the paintball gun 200. Where a constant supply of compressed gas is provided, the pathway 116 in the housing 110 is preferably airtight such that compressed gas cannot escape from behind the driving member 118. The supply of paintballs 120 is thereby preferably urged forward into the paintball gun 200, with a new paintball 120 entering the firing chamber after the previous one is expelled, until the last paintball 120 is emptied from the clip 100. The clip 100 can thereafter be removed and a new clip 100 loaded into the paintball gun 200.

In an alternate embodiment, as illustrated schematically in FIG. 4, the supply of compressed gas to the driving member 118 can be selective. For instance, an electrical signal from a control board 250 of the paintball gun 200 or a control board (not shown) of the pneumatic clip 100 could direct a solenoid valve 240 to supply a timed burst of compressed gas to the driving member 118 through the pneumatic fitting 114. The timed burst can be configured to be applied in response to a firing operation of the paintball gun 200 such that it will drive a paintball 120 into a vacated firing chamber (or breech) 212 during a loading operation immediately following the firing operation.

In yet another embodiment, one or more breech sensor(s) or “eyes” 252 could be used to detect the presence or absence of a paintball 120 in the breech 212. A signal could be sent to a solenoid valve 240 to direct compressed gas into the pneumatic clip 100 through the pneumatic fitting 114 until the presence of a paintball 120 is detected in the breech or firing chamber 212 of the paintball gun 200. When a paintball 120 is detected in the firing chamber 212, the solenoid valve 240 could be directed to cease supplying compressed gas to the pneumatic clip 100. When timed bursts of compressed gas are used, the pathway 116 does not need to be airtight, but may be airtight, if desired.

In a still further embodiment, a pressure switch (not shown) could be used to direct the supply of compressed gas to the driving member 118. The pressure switch could, for instance, be used to determine a gas pressure in the chamber behind the driving member 118 and to send a pressure signal to the control board 250. The control board could then direct a supply of compressed gas to the clip 100 through the solenoid valve 240 when the chamber pressure drops below a desired pressure or when an increase in pressure is desired.

Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in various preferred embodiments thereof, it should be apparent that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. We claim all modifications and variations coming within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 

1. A pneumatically-operated clip for a paintball gun, comprising: a housing; a passageway arranged in the housing, said passageway configured to house a quantity of paintballs; an opening located at a first end of the passageway, said opening arranged in communication with a breech of a paintball gun during operation to supply the quantity of paintballs to the paintball gun; and a pneumatic chamber arranged at a second end of the passageway, said pneumatic chamber configured to receive a quantity of compressed gas during operation to urge the quantity of paintballs toward the opening.
 2. A clip according to claim 1, further comprising: a driving member arranged between the second end of the passageway and the supply of paintballs, wherein said pneumatic chamber is arranged between the driving member and the second end of the passageway, and wherein the driving member supplies a force to the quantity of paintballs to urge the paintballs toward the first end of the passageway in response to a gas pressure in the pneumatic chamber.
 3. A clip according to claim 2, wherein the driving member comprises a driving ball or piston that occupies substantially all of a cross-sectional area of the passageway to substantially seal the pneumatic chamber from the remainder of the passageway.
 4. A clip according to claim 1, further comprising: a pneumatic regulator arranged in communication with the pneumatic chamber to supply compressed gas to the pneumatic chamber at a substantially constant pressure.
 5. A clip according to claim 1, further comprising: a pressure switch arranged to detect a pressure in the pneumatic chamber and configured to relay a signal to direct a solenoid valve to supply compressed gas to the pneumatic chamber when the pressure drops below a desired pressure.
 6. A clip according to claim 1, wherein the passageway is configured in a substantially U-like shape between the first and second ends.
 7. A clip according to claim 1, further comprising: a solenoid valve configured to selectively supply a quantity of compressed gas to the pneumatic chamber to drive the quantity of paintballs toward the first end.
 8. A clip according to claim 7, wherein the solenoid valve supplies compressed gas to the pneumatic chamber in response to a signal from a control board of the paintball gun.
 9. A clip according to claim 8, wherein the paintball gun control board generates the signal in response to a firing operation of the paintball gun.
 10. A clip according to claim 8, wherein the paintball gun comprises a breech sensor and wherein the control board generates the signal based on a signal from the breech sensor.
 11. A pneumatically-operated clip for a paintball gun, comprising: a housing configured to attach to a paintball gun; a passageway arranged in the housing, said passageway configured to house a quantity of paintballs; and a pneumatic chamber arranged in communication with the passageway, said pneumatic chamber configured to receive a quantity of compressed gas during operation to urge the quantity of paintballs forward along the passageway.
 12. A clip according to claim 11, wherein said pneumatic chamber is arranged in the passageway and receives the quantity of compressed gas through a pneumatic fitting located at a first end of the passageway.
 13. A clip according to claim 12, wherein said passageway comprises an opening at a second end of the passageway, said opening configured to supply the quantity of paintballs to a receiving chamber of the paintball gun during operation.
 14. A clip according to claim 13, further comprising a driving member arranged in the passageway between the pneumatic chamber and the quantity of paintballs, said driving member configured to push the quantity of paintballs along the passageway toward the opening.
 15. A clip according to claim 14, wherein said driving member substantially seals the passageway and wherein a pressure applied by the quantity of compressed gas drives the driving member forward along the passageway.
 16. A method of operating a clip for a paintball gun, comprising: supplying compressed gas to a passageway in a clip containing a supply of paintballs to drive the paintballs forward along the passageway.
 17. A method according to claim 16, wherein supplying compressed gas comprises selectively supplying a quantity of compressed gas to the passageway through a solenoid valve in response to a control signal.
 18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising: generating the control signal in response to a sensor signal from a paintball gun.
 19. A method according to claim 16, wherein supplying compressed gas comprises supplying the compressed gas to the passageway at a constant pressure.
 20. A method according to claim 16, wherein supplying compressed gas comprises selectively supplying the compressed gas to the passageway in response to a signal from a pressure switch in the passageway. 